Seth Mazzaglia is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday morning for killing Lizzi Marriott, 19, in October 2012.

Mazzaglia's attorneys filed a motion late last week saying he was waiving his right to appear at his sentencing, but prosecutors objected, saying he should be present when 11 friends and relatives of the victim present statements.

Prosecutors said Mazzaglia was recorded speaking to his mother on the phone from prison and saying he wanted to skip the sentencing hearing because he didn't want to hear Marriott's family.

“This is a quote from him, ‘Yeah, but I’m going to have to sit there for an hour and a half listening to them' – which is the victim’s family, the family of the woman who he raped and murdered – ‘yell and whine and bitch and moan and scream about how I am a monster who killed someone when I’m not. That’s what I’m literally going to have to listen to for the whole time,’” said Peter Hinckley, assistant attorney general.

Mazzaglia's attorneys said that was irrelevant and that he has the right to opt out of attending any part of the case.

Judge Steven Houran heard arguments Tuesday afternoon and said he would have to do some research before issuing a ruling. But a short time after the hearing, Mazzaglia withdrew his motion.

Marriott's loved ones were prepared to give their statements Tuesday. They attended the hearing, and Marriott's mother, Melissa Marriott, called Mazzaglia a coward.

"I'm not surprised at what he said to his mother," she said. "We've known he's been a coward for 22 months now. It's really not out of character for him. He's really a selfish coward, and he really does not care about anyone else."

In the recorded phone calls from prison, Mazzaglia also said he might pursue an appeal based on receiving ineffective counsel from his defense team, officials said.

Mazzaglia's sentencing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday. It will be shown live on WMUR-Channel 9 and WMUR.com.